Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray are locked in a war of words over Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a veiled attack on Shinde, Thackeray said that “one more minister will have to go” and hinted that the leader was from Thane. Thackeray’s remarks came soon after Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders demanded Shinde’s resignation as deputy chief minister, following allegations that his brother Prakash was allegedly linked to a drug racket busted by the Mumbai Police in Satara. Prakash has thoroughly refuted the allegations. Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (UBT); (right) Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister Defending Shinde on Friday, Fadnavis said his ally was being deliberately targeted, and his image was being tarnished without basis. “Some people are misleading everyone by dragging Shinde and his family’s name in a drug-related case. This is being done with the intention to gain political mileage and defame Shinde,” Fadnavis, who heads the home department, stated. The Maharashtra home minister further stated that a detailed investigation would be carried out in connection with this case. Earlier, Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare demanded the resignation of Shinde, alleging links between a resort owned by his brother and a drug manufacturing unit recently busted in Satara district. Andhare has alleged that Shinde’s brother owns a resort in Sawari village, and the hotel had allegedly supplied food to a nearby temporary shed where drugs were being manufactured. Meanwhile, a member of Parliament belonging to the Sena (UBT) camp has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, briefing him about the entire episode and urging the minister to take action against Shinde.
20 December,2025 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarDiscontent is growing within the BJP over demands by family members of party leaders for election tickets ahead of the upcoming Mumbai civic polls. It has been reliably learnt that several relatives of BJP MLAs, office-bearers, and senior leaders are seeking tickets for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, triggering resentment among grassroots workers. The move has not gone down well with party karyakartas, and even some office-bearers, who feel loyal workers are being sidelined in favour of family members of influential leaders. The issue has now been formally raised within the party. Vivekanand Gupta, secretary of the BJP’s Mumbai unit, has written to the party’s election committee for Mumbai, flagging concerns that the upcoming BMC elections should not turn into a “family business”. “It is not appropriate to ignore deserving grassroots workers and grant tickets to relatives such as wives, sons, daughters or grandchildren of party office-bearers, MLAs, and other public representatives,” Gupta told mid-day. When this newspaper contacted BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam for a response, he did not reply to messages. Gupta has also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of changes in ward reservation categories to accommodate family members of leaders. He said BJP workers who have stood by the party for years should be given priority, rather than relatives taking advantage of seats shifting from general to women, OBC or other reserved categories. “Using reservation changes as a pretext to accommodate family members demoralises long-serving karyakartas who work at the ground level with the hope of getting a fair opportunity to contest elections,” Gupta said in his letter. A few months ago, a draw was held for Mumbai’s 227 civic wards. Under the new framework, 61 wards are reserved for OBCs, 15 for Scheduled Castes, two for Scheduled Tribes and 74 for women in the general category, while 75 wards remain open. Overall, 114 of the 227 municipal wards are reserved for women across categories. The BMC elections are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with vote counting on January 16. The previous five-year term of the civic body ended in February 2022. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest the polls as an alliance. According to party sources, the BJP is seeking around 140 seats, while the Shinde Sena is demanding over 100 seats. Seat-sharing talks are ongoing, though Satam has earlier stated that a consensus has been reached on 150 seats, with the remaining differences expected to be resolved soon. For nearly 25 years, the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP ruled the BMC together before their alliance ended in 2017. In the last civic polls, Shiv Sena won 84 seats, BJP 82, Congress 29, NCP 31, MNS seven and others 15. 227No. of electoral wards in city
20 December,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe supporting iron rods at a construction site in Mahim, which caused damage and threatened the life of a 50-60 year-old peepal tree, were partially removed by the developer on Friday evening. The move followed yet another inspection at the site along Bhagoji Keer Road near Paradise Cinema by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Friday, after complaints from the residents of the area. However, the developer only cut portions of the rods passing through the tree, while the scaffolding and iron sheets still remain in place. mid-day reported on Friday that the residents of Mahim had complained to BMC about damage to an old tree as iron rods were pushed right through its trunk. The BMC had issued a verbal warning to the developers on Thursday to remove the irregularities along the compound wall and the tree. Metal rods seen piercing the peepal tree, on Thursday. Pics/By Special Arrangement The issue came to light on Thursday morning, when residents of the area noticed that workers from the construction site had installed iron rods through a peepal tree. An NGO, the Bombay Indigenous People's Association (BIPA), from the area, complained to the BMC about the issue. Luke Mendez, a professor from St Xavier's College, founder of BIPA, and a resident of the area, confirmed that it was around a 15-metre-tall Peepal tree, easily 50-60 years old, towering over the rooftop terrace of a seven-storeyed building. Damaging trees is an offence under the Tree Act, 1972. According to information received from officials, the civic body informed the Mumbai Police about the case on Friday.
20 December,2025 07:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSAfter a six-hour operation, the Maharashtra Forest Department, with support from the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, MBMC police and wildlife conservation NGOs, safely rescued a leopard that had entered a residential area in Bhayandar East, triggering a human–wildlife conflict in which seven people were injured. The leopard was first spotted late on Thursday night by a local animal feeder, who alerted the police. Officers conducted a search along BP Road No 5 in Bhayandar East but were unable to trace the animal at the time. Panic broke out early Friday morning when the leopard entered residential buildings in the area and attacked multiple people. Residents recount horror Ankit Gupta, a resident of Parijat A and B Cooperative Housing Society, said residents were initially told that the animal had been spotted behind the building the previous night. “In the morning, around 7.30 am, I was at my dairy shop when I heard people screaming. That is when we realised the leopard had entered a first-floor flat through a balcony and injured a girl. It later attacked several others,” he said. Another resident, Prashant Makwana, expressed shock at the incident. “There is no forest patch nearby. Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the mangroves are far from here. We are still wondering how the leopard reached this area,” he said. Rescue operation and chaos The Thane Territorial Forest Department, Sanjay Gandhi National Park authorities, MBMC and police were informed. SGNP Director Anita Patil and Deputy Conservator of Forest Sachin Repal dispatched rescue teams. Wildlife NGOs, including SARRP-India, WWA and RAWW, assisted in the operation. Rescue efforts were hampered by crowding after local political leaders arrived at the spot, drawing supporters and onlookers. A resident said the presence of politicians added to the chaos and made crowd control difficult for police. SGNP veterinarian Dr Nikhil Bangar said the leopard was eventually darted on the first floor, where it had taken shelter inside a toilet. “The window opening was very small, so we had to use a blowpipe instead of a tranquilliser gun. The leopard is around three to four years old. A decision on whether it will be released into the wild or kept in captivity will be taken after further examination,” he said. 6No. of hours rescue op lasted Leopard–human conflict incidents in 2025 December Leopard entered Nagpur city, rescued by forest departmentNovember Leopard injured five people in Nashik before rescueNovember Leopard rescued from second floor of under-construction building in Nagpur’s Bhandewadi areaNovember Leopard injured three people in Kolhapur before being rescued Timeline of attacks Dwarka BhuvanIn another incident at Dwarka Bhuvan on Talav Road, the leopard jumped into a first-floor balcony and bit the hand of Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who managed to shut the grill and escape. “I have lived here for 25 years. There are no forests nearby. We are all wondering how the leopard came here,” Bhowmick said. Paras BuildingThe first attack occurred near Paras Building, where 50-year-old Rakesh Yadav and his family friend, 19-year-old Shyaam Pratap Sahani, were returning after breakfast around 8 am. Sahani, who had arrived in Mumbai just two days earlier in search of work, was scratched by the leopard, which was hiding behind parked motorcycles. “It first attacked my uncle and then came at me. I started shouting for help,” Sahani said.Yadav said the attack happened in seconds. “Had we fallen, the injuries could have been far more serious,” he said. Parijat ApartmentThe most serious attack took place at Parijat Apartment, where 23-year-old Anjali Tak was asleep when the leopard entered her room through a balcony. The animal scratched her face and head, causing serious injuries. Her sister and mother escaped with minor wounds. A relative, Chagannlal Bagrecha, rushed in with sanitation workers and helped drive the leopard away. Anjali was later shifted to KEM Hospital for advanced treatment. ThursdayNight the leopard was first spotted Injured at hospital “Since 9 am on Friday morning, we have had seven patients of leopard attack come into our hospital. We instantly assembled a team of surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, casualty medical officers, on-duty medical officers, nurses, and me. Two patients have been moved to KEM, given the serious nature of their injuries and prior medical history,” said Additional Civil Surgeon Dr Smita Ade. What to do if a wild animal enters your locality Do. Stay calm and immediately inform the Forest Department or police control room. Keep a safe distance and ensure children and pets remain indoors. Shut doors, windows, gates and balcony grills. Follow instructions issued by forest officials and police. Allow clear access and escape routes for rescue teams Don't. Do not chase, corner or provoke the animal. Do not make loud noises or attempt to scare it. Do not block escape routes or surround the animal. Do not crowd the area or take videos Who to call Maharashtra Forest Department: 022-2544 5459 Local police control room: 100 / 112 The injured Pics/Aditi Alurkar Rakesh Yadav, 50, who was injured when leopard attacked him near his building Shyaam Pratap Sahani, 19, who sustained injuries while returning home after breakfast Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who was injured after leopard jumped into his balcony Khushi Tak, 19, who suffered minor injuries during the leopard attack at her residence Bharti Tak, 55, who sustained injuries while escaping the leopard Chagannlal Bagrecha, 48, who was injured while helping rescue a family
20 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Aditi Alurkar1 Late Thursday night, a local Bhayandar woman who feeds stray dogs spots a leopard in the area and immediately informs the police 2 Police personnel arrive and scan the surroundings, but are unable to trace the leopard during the night search 3 At 7.40 am, Rakesh Yadav and his 19-year-old family friend who are returning to their ground floor flat after having breakfast are attacked by the leopard who was hiding behind the vehicles 4 The leopard makes his way into a neighbouring society, where a food delivery person in the adjoining wing, spots the leopard and calls out to residents to warn them. Deepu Bhowmick hears the calls and runs to shut his balcony grill when the leopard jumps at him and bites his hand 5 Later, it jumps into a first-floor balcony, enters a flat, and injures a young woman inside. Her uncle and a few BMC cleaners rush to rescue her with laathis. The uncle sustains major injuries, while the girl manages to escape 6 Panic follows as the leopard injures five more people amid the chaos in the residential building 7 Teams from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s Forest Department and the local police reach the spot, formulate a capture strategy, while local politicians arrive and a large crowd gathers, complicating the rescue 8 After a nearly seven-hour operation, the leopard is tranquillised and captured, with forest officials struggling to move it into the rescue van owing to the crowd
20 December,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe presence of a leopard in the densely populated Bhayandar East locality has left residents and officials puzzled about how the animal managed to reach a residential building far from known forest patches on Friday. Forest department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they believe the leopard may have moved through a mangrove patch near Reti Bunder along Bhayandar khadi after dispersing from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park landscape. Experts speak Biologist Nikit Surve of Wildlife Conservation Society-India, who has been studying Mumbai’s leopards for the past decade and has radio-collared five leopards in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, said the incident was not unusual. The rescued leopard in the custody of Forest Department officials. Pics/By Special Arrangement “This is not the first time a leopard has been reported from this area. We have records of leopards using the mangrove belt that connects to Sanjay Gandhi National Park. While it is still unclear whether leopards permanently inhabit mangroves, our research shows they use these habitats as movement corridors,” Surve said. He added that similar movement patterns have been documented in other parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “We have records of leopards using the Gorai landscape as well. A few years ago, a leopard was also rescued from Bhayandar near the railway tracks,” he said. The rescue team that carried out the leopard rescue in Bhayandar. Pic/Satej Shinde Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation said, “Coordination between agencies is essential to manage the crowd during such rescue operations. While the forest department team is busy rescuing the animal, the police, home guards, and other local administration staff must be deployed to control the crowd. Large crowds creating a ruckus can be quite stressful for leopards. Effective crowd management would help in minimising such incentives in future. We must remember that the injuries caused in this case were only because the leopard was trying to escape from the area, and not a deliberate attempt to attack people.” Central mystery While the exact route taken by the leopard remains unclear, forest officials believe it may have travelled through mangrove patches along Bhayandar khadi. Satellite imagery shows a near-continuous mangrove belt stretching from Bhayandar khadi through Reti Bunder and up to the Ghodbunder Fort area. This green corridor further connects to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park landscape, offering a possible passage for wildlife movement. A screengrab from a viral video showing the leopard inside a residential housing colony in Bhayandar East. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav Was big cat spotted earlier? In March 2022, mid-day had reported sightings of leopard pugmarks in the Gorai-Manori belt, an area where residents and officials had earlier believed leopard presence was unlikely. The approximate road distance between the SGNP main gate and Gorai, where pugmarks were found, is about 25 km. In February 2022, a male leopard was rescued from a dry stormwater drain near Jai Ambe Nagar in Bhayandar. That animal was found around seven to eight kilometres away from the nearest forest patch. Patterns to be matched Sources from SGNP said forest officials are attempting to match the rosette patterns of the leopard rescued from Bhayandar in 2022 with those of the leopard captured recently in Bhayandar East to determine whether the same animal may be involved in both incidents. On Friday, the leopard was rescued from this point in Bhayandar East, BP Road No. 5, Parijat Building Thursday 11.30 pmA local dog feeder spots the leopard in the Bhayandar East area and alerts authorities. Friday 7.45–8.00 amThe leopard is sighted on Talav Road, where Deepu Bhowmick is attacked on his first-floor balcony. Friday Around 8 amRakesh Yadav and Shyaam Sahani are attacked while returning home on BP Road after breakfast. Friday Around 8.15 amThe leopard moves towards Parijat Building and enters the Tak family’s first-floor flat. Friday 9.30–10.00 amForest department rescue teams reach the spot and begin search and containment operations. Friday 2.18 pmThe leopard is successfully tranquilised and brought under control after a six-hour operation. Leopard rescues in Mumbai, metropolitan region Nov 2022 A leopard that entered a building in Chinchpada, Kalyan East, was rescued following a nine-hour operation after injuring three people Dec 2019 A leopard spotted inside SEEPZ, Andheri East, was trapped within three hours and released into SGNP April 2019 A two-year-old leopard was rescued from Woodland Crest building in Marol June 2018 A leopard was rescued from an abandoned factory in Marol May 2018 A leopard entered a gymnasium at the SRPF camp near Aarey Milk Colony and was rescued Jan 2018 Leopard strayed into Mulund East, injured five people and was later rescued Dec 2017 A leopard was rescued from a kindergarten classroom in Andheri East Nov 2016 A leopard was trapped inside an under-construction building in Powai Dec 2012 Leopard rescued from ONGC Colony in Jogeshwari East near the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road
20 December,2025 07:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Aditi AlurkarThe dream of segregating local and express trains is coming closer to reality, as the sixth line to Borivli is expected to be operational by late January 2026, with finishing work set to begin today. With this, mail express trains will no longer be operated on the local line between Bandra and Borivli, resulting in less congestion on Western Railway. “A 30-day block will be in place from December 20, 2025, in view of the sixth line work in the Borivli-Kandivli section. During this period, some trains will be short-terminated/originated, regulated, and rescheduled, and some trains will skip their scheduled halt at Borivli station,” a senior official said. Work is carried out to ensure express and local trains are segregated between Bandra and Borivli. Pics/By Special Arrangement The fifth line between Bandra Terminus and Borivli is already commissioned, while the sixth one — commissioned up to Goregaon in November 2022 and extended to Kandivli in October 2023 — is operational only between Bandra Terminus and Kandivli. It currently handles around 20 mail and express trains every day. After the completion of the Goregaon-Kandivli section, sixth line work will commence on the Kandivli-Borivli section. 20No. of express trains that ply on 6th line between Bandra Terminus and Kandivli daily Thirty-day block begins To carry out the work in connection with the sixth line, a block is being imposed from the night of December 20th/21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. As per details shared by Railways, eight Up trains and 10 Down trains will be rescheduled. Additionally, 112 Up trains and nine Down trains will be regulated during the period. One train will be cancelled, while two Down trains will be short-originated at intermediate stations. The work involves track slewing and insertion and removal of multiple crossovers at Kandivli and Borivli. Major works of the engineering, signalling, and overhead equipment will be carried out, which will impact train operations. Consequently, some suburban, passenger, and mail/express trains will be affected. The fifth line will remain suspended for passenger train operations, and speed restrictions will be imposed on other lines. Key benefits of sixth line Reduced congestion on existing lines: The sixth line adds extra track capacity on one of the world’s busiest suburban corridors. This helps spread rail traffic more evenly, easing overcrowding on the current tracks between Bandra Terminus and Borivli. Dedicated route for long-distance trains: Once complete, the line will allow long-distance mail and express trains to run on their own track separate from local suburban services, reducing bottlenecks and freeing up space for local trains on the fast lines. Better punctuality and reliability: Segregating traffic means fewer delays caused by mixing fast suburban locals with slower or stopping trains. Both suburban and long-distance services can keep closer to their schedules. Increased train frequency over time: With the extra track available, Railways can potentially run more local services in the future — benefiting commuters between Borivli, Bandra, and beyond. Some reports even suggest an increase in overall services by roughly 20 per cent once the new infrastructure is fully operational. Improved overall capacity: The sixth line expands overall corridor capacity, accommodating steady growth in passenger numbers across the western suburbs
20 December,2025 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarBecause coach knows best School-level footballers listen to their coach after a practice session at Cooperage Ground. A century of Ritwik Ghatak A still from Subarnarekha. Pics Courtesy/NFDC-National Film Archive Of India This year marks the birth centenary of legendary film director Ritwik Ghatak. The city-based Brief Encounters Film Club is celebrating this today with a screening of his film, Subarnarekha (1965), at a Bandra venue. Founder Aparajita Sinha, daughter of late director Bimal Roy, said, “I wanted to plan something in his honour in Mumbai. There will be a panel discussion with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra and screenwriter Amole Gupte, among others. Author Amborish Roychoudhury will also be present at the event.” Ritwik Ghatak Decking the streets with lights and melodies Pics/Atul Kamble With Christmas just around the corner, Convent Road in Bandra came alive with festive cheer on the evening of December 17, with a showcase featuring performers singing carols. The community event was curated by Errol DeSouza and Maria De Souza Blossom Coutinho, among others, and perfectly depicted the love, sharing, and goodness that form the true spirit of Christmas. From pain to paradise The group performs MORE MORE Paradise at a previous event. Pic Courtesy/Les Petites Choses Production The Taiwan-based Les Petites Choses Production put on a mixed-media performance, MORE MORE Paradise, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on Friday. Evolving from visual artist Chuang Che-Wei’s 2023 concept work, Paradise, the performance is a product of a personal injury to choreographer Lin Su-Lien. “It is a personal work reflecting Lin Su-Lien’s experience of struggle and transformation, it has sweeping universality. It encompasses many elemental emotions and dwells upon the human condition with great sensitivity,” revealed Aaron Fernandes, tour manager. Lin Su-Lien added, “Three years ago, I injured both my knees, and suddenly could not dance or work. Those days were painful and exhausting, but because of that accident, I also experienced the understanding, support, and care of the people around me. During that period, it felt as if I were living in both ‘heaven’ and ‘hell,’ an experience that became the starting point for the piece.” With a blend of generative AI paintings, on-site installations, and dance, art director Yang Nai-Hsuan said, “I believe this work will transcend borders and nationalities.” Ticket to treasure The complimentary pass. Pic Courtesy/Facebook Among the many items that constitute sporting memorabilia, are tickets to big ticket events (pun unintended). On Thursday, less than a week after the grand Lionel Messi show at Wankhede Stadium, someone put out his complimentary pass for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Asking price? A stiff R10,000. Considering the kind of hero worship that Messi enjoys on these shores and beyond, we don’t think it would have been a task to find a taker. A fiery avatar Srivastava cosplays at the premiere. Pic Courtesy/Medha Srivastava Mumbai-based cosplayer Medha Srivastava had quite a delight in store for fans of the Avatar film series, when she enacted Varang, a character from Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), at its premiere on December 17 in Lower Parel. The film was released yesterday in India. “It was an amazing experience. Onlookers loved that I stayed in character throughout, creating a lively atmosphere,” she recounted to this diarist.
20 December,2025 06:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for December 20. Aries March 21 – April 20A legal issue is sorted. Be careful with money and valuables today. Working with others may be slightly challenging, so figure out the right balance.Cosmic tip: Enjoy this heart-to-heart conversation. TaurusApril 21 – May 20Business/career is on a fast track. Travel for work increases much more than you’d like it to. Accept it. Cosmic tip: Let situations work, by having faith in the Higher Power and karma. GeminiMay 21 – June 21A chance meeting with someone you admire leaves you feeling flustered. Those seeking employment can begin applying to organisations. Cosmic tip: Stay in touch with emotions, listening to what your mind says. Cancer June 22 – July 23An important relationship rights itself, with you ready to listen to the song in your heart. Cosmic tip: If possible, spend the last couple of days of 2025 in a quiet place, surrounded with greenery. Leo July 24 - Aug 23A soulmate connection is so palpable that even strangers notice. An excellent idea at work wins a thumbs-up immediately. Cosmic tip: Question safe beliefs, willing to change what’s passed the expiry date. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23A potential legal situation ends. Now you can concentrate on other aspects of life. Do get enough sleep. Cosmic tip: Continue making positive karmas in the face of the other person being spiritually barren. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Work pressures might keep you awake at night; so learn to distance yourself from it once the work-day ends. Cosmic tip: Walk away from someone verbally confusing you. This is pure and simple gaslighting. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Ask yourself why a relationship shudders to a stop regularly. What do you need to change? What does your spouse/partner need to change? Cosmic tip: Be a winner in the karmic balance of life. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Work at the office is fairly routine. Social life is rocking, or is it whizzing like a rocket? Do get enough rest and sleep. Cosmic tip: Make carefully thought-out decisions since life is at a crossroads. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20A reunion was expected since emotions run at double fast speed in the last month of the year. Protect valuables if in a crowded place. Cosmic tip: Take a holiday whenever possible. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19There should be mutual total faith for the relationship to thrive (you have to walk the talk). Drink enough water.Cosmic tip: Weigh out pros and cons about a relationship dilemma. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20A deadline is postponed for next week. Carefully steering the relationship in the right direction is bringing results. Cosmic tip: Enjoy this financial prosperity.
20 December,2025 04:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseIndia cricket stalwart Salim Durani, who passed away in 2023, is once again in the news after a video of a woman claiming to be his wife went viral on social media. The woman — identified as Rekha Shrivastava — was recently found begging on the streets of Belapur. While those known to the cricketer say his first wife’s name was indeed Rekha, no one is sure if the woman making the claims is his actual first wife. Help Drive Foundation, the NGO that traced Rekha’s daughter, confirmed that the woman is Durani’s former wife and that she is collecting documentary evidence. The NGO staff told mid-day that Rekha's daughter saw her after 40 years through the footage. The viral video “My name is Rekha Shrivastava. I am the wife of cricketer Salim Durani. We lived in a bungalow and met the king of Gujarat, and ministers regularly. My husband died two years ago. I sold my bungalow, and now I have nothing. Earlier, I worked with an airline,” the woman said in the video. She is currently living in a Navi Mumbai shelter home. A helping hand Tarun Mishra, founder of the Help Drive Foundation, said, “During our interaction, she revealed that she is the former wife of Durani. Her daughter, who lives in Mumbai, contacted us and confirmed that the woman is her 84-year-old mother. She had married Durani, but they later separated. We are now collecting documentary evidence from Rekha’s daughter and Durani’s relatives in Jamnagar to verify the relationship.” Rekha Shrivastava, who claims to be the first wife of the late cricketer. Pic/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT According to Mishra, the NGO received a call from Indian former cricketer Ajay Jadeja, who said the woman resembled Durani’s wife, Rekha, and expressed his willingness to help her. “She needs shelter, food, and a peaceful life, which we are trying to provide,” he added. Rekha’s daughter allegedly told the NGO staff that her mother lived in a bungalow in Khar, but she later lost contact with her. “She also said that her mother was very wealthy, but how she lost all her property remains a mystery,” Mishra said, adding that until there is documentary proof, one cannot conclusively say that the woman is Durani’s wife. ‘Seems like Rekha’ When mid-day contacted friends of Durani, they stated that Rekha was indeed his first wife’s name. However, they were unsure whether the woman seen in the viral video is the same person, as Rekha, is now 84 years old and most people last met her 40-50 years ago. Ramyar Balsara, a friend of Durani’s told mid-day, “I am sure his wife’s name was Rekha, and the woman in the video looks very similar. I cannot confirm if she is the same person, but if she is his wife, she deserves respect and support. I also remember their daughter.” Balsara added, “I was in regular contact with Salim after his retirement from cricket. When he received a large sum of money from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, I advised him to invest it in a fixed deposit scheme at the SBI Jamnagar branch. He survived on the interest. I started playing cricket because he inspired me. He was allowed to travel free of cost in the first-class on Indian Railways, but always chose to travel in second-class, standing near the door. His lifestyle was very simple. I am willing to help his wife.” Garnering support Dimple Bhatia, another friend of Durani, said from Jamnagar: “He got married when I was a child. I do not know whether the woman claiming to be his wife is genuine. He spent most of his life in Mumbai. If she is truly his wife, I feel very bad about her condition.” Meanwhile, former cricketer Deepan Bhatt stated, “Durani visited Khar Gymkhana regularly. He was our close friend, and we played cricket together. We have seen the viral video of the woman claiming to be his wife. Most of the information she shared is correct, but we are not certain about her identity. We are checking with Gymkhana members and former players to confirm the truth.” A close friend of the Durani family, speaking on condition of anonymity, told mid-day, “I have seen the video forwarded to me. She is Rekha, Durani’s first wife. Over the years, we lost touch. I do not have any photographs of her or her daughter.” Rekha is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer’s and memory loss, and while Durani will be fondly remembered for his cricket skills and good nature, the video clip featuring Rekha will not be forgotten in a hurry. OfficialSpeak Speaking with mid-day, Senior Police Inspector Arun Pawar of CBD Belapur police station said, “We got information about this woman from an NGO that admitted her to a shelter home. We didn’t find any documents or identification cards on her. She needs medical treatment. We are checking with her relatives and friends whether she is Durani’s wife. But we have no evidence until now. We will reunite her with her family once we know more.” Rekha Shrivastava. Pic/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Durani family refutes claims In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, Durani’s nephew, Sajid Khan Durani, has refuted the claims in the video, calling them “totally fake.” Speaking over the phone from Jamnagar, Gujarat, Sajid, who fondly referred to his late uncle as ‘Mota Bapu’, clarified the family’s position and shared details about Durani’s personal life. “For the last two days, a viral video on social media has been giving out some very wrong information about Salim Durani’s personal life. He was my uncle. He got divorced from his first wife long ago and got married again to Manjula Dharamsey. She was a doctor and passed away long ago. Since then, my uncle was residing with us at our Jamnagar home.” ‘Not the one’ Sajid, however, acknowledged that Durani’s first wife’s name was Rekha, but emphasised that she had no role to play in his later life. “His first wife’s name was Rekha, but this lady is not the one. And chaalo, ek baar maan bhi lete hain ke woh Durani ki wife thi [and even if we consider that she was his wife], where was she when my uncle expired? She has now come into the picture all of a sudden.” ‘Got divorced anyway’ Stressing on the legal reality of the matter, Sajid said, “The most important thing is that my uncle and Rekha got legally divorced and she [Rekha] got married elsewhere. So officially, going by the law, Rekha was no longer his wife. How can she claim now that he’s her husband? My uncle later got married to Manjula, and they too got divorced later. So, whatever this lady is trying to project is totally wrong.” ‘Pitiable, but fake’ Sajid also questioned Rekha’s lack of connection with the family. “Does she know where we reside in Gujarat? Does she know the names of any of our family members? My uncle was an internationally recognised sportsman, so many people know his personal details. I pity the old lady — she must be the same age as my late mother — but this piece of news doing the rounds is fake,” he concluded. Salim Durani passed away in Jamnagar on April 2, 2023. He played 29 Test matches between 1960 and 1973. He was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and a left-handed batsman, widely known for hitting sixes on demand. On a lighter note… "Salim Durani used to live on rent at my grandfather’s house on Turner Road, Bandra West. In 1972, he took me to watch a Test match. He drank four bottles of beer and then went on to score 73," said Ramyar Balsara, a friend. Dimple Bhatia, another friend said, "Salim was the only cricketer who played according to fans’ demands. He would hit sixes in the direction from where fans asked for sixes. Once, when he was dropped from the team, fans protested by chanting ‘No Durani, No Test’. I was his friend and also a fan."
19 December,2025 10:23 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania | Bipin DaniPolling is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, across 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra for the posts of president and members, the State Election Commission (SEC) said, PTI reported. Simultaneously, elections will be held for 143 vacant member posts in various other municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Counting of votes is set for December 21, 2025. The SEC had earlier announced the election schedule for 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats on November 4, 2025. Polling for 263 municipal councils and nagar panchayats took place on December 2, while voting for the remaining local bodies will be conducted on Saturday. BMC, 28 municipal corporations to go to polls on Jan 15 Meanwhile, earlier this week, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced that elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, 2026. Polling will be held from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Tuesday made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai. With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all municipal corporation areas. No policy decisions related to these areas can be taken during this period, except in cases of natural disasters or emergency relief. Out of the 29 municipal corporations Jalna and Ichalkaranji are newly formed, the terms of five corporations ended in 2020 and the terms of 18 corporations ended in 2022. According to the officials, the terms of four corporations ended in 2023 and the BMC’s term ended in March 2022. Multi-member ward system According to the State Election Commission, except for the BMC elections in the remaining 28 municipal corporations will be held under a multi-member ward system. In the BMC, voters will cast one vote per ward In other corporations, voters may cast three to five votes, depending on the number of seats in the ward. Although an online system is available, the SEC has decided that nomination papers will be accepted only offline for municipal corporation elections, considering demands from political parties and candidates. (with PTI inputs)
19 December,2025 09:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
